Manufacture of ornamental signs



lJNrTnn STATES PATENT @rrrca WVALLAOE L. EIGHT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL SIGNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,682, dated Jun Application filed November .29, 1886. Serial No. 220,193.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALLAOE L. Titer-1T, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of. Orna-' mental Signs, Figures, Designs, and other Articles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention pertains to the manufacture of illuminated signs, figures, ornamental designs, and other articles where a diversity or combination of colors may be introduced to beautify and heighten the effect of the subject and make it pleasing and attractive; and for this purpose in the manufacture ofilluminated signs, figures, plates, cards, and other articles I make use of fine strips of silk, or fine silk ribbon of suitable widths but of different or diversified colors placed sideby side to cover the entire face of the letter, figure, design, or object to be shown, and arrange or place the pieces of different colors and combine them with a view to produce the best effect and exhibit to the best advantage the letter, figure, design, or object sought to be shown; and in order to accomplish this the mode I have adopted is to use two pieces or sheets of cardboard or other suitable material, and from the one intended for the front plate, which may be of the same size, but preferably smaller, than the piece or sheet intended for the back plate, I cut or stamp out the letters, figure, or design intended to be shown with care; then cut the same letters, figure, or design through the piece intended for the back plate neatly and carefully, and in such amanner that when the front plate is placed over or fastened to the back plate the edges of the letters, figure, or design cut in the back plate will not obstruct the light or cast ashadow on the letter or fig 11 re itself in the front plate when the two are united and completed; and to insure this the letters, character, or design to be shown may be cut or made a trifle larger in the back plate than in the front.

Figure 1 in the drawings represents the letters, sign, design, $30., when the two plates are united in proper position with the ribbon or other transparent material between them and the sign, design, or other article comthe edges of the pieces to overlap each other slightly, so that on covering the letter or design completely a beautiful and effective harmony of color is produced, and the design or object shown in a vivid and attractive manner. The colored strips may be laid length wise across the letters or design in the front plate, or any other direction, if preferable, until the letters, design, or other object outlined or cut in the plate are fully covered and the design effectively shown by the semi-transparency of the silk showing the letters or design in diversified colors in contrast to the opaque surroundings. The strips of silk, when laid, as above stated, upon the back side of the front plate coated with glue, will be kept firmly in place when embedded in the glue and dried. After applying the strips of silk or other material to the backside coated surface of the front plate in the manner suggested, then spread a coating of such glue or adhesive substance to that part of the back plate to be covered by the front plate, place the front plate with the adhering strips of silk in correct position on the back plate, and subject them to a slight but even pressure to unite the plates firmly together when the glue becomes dry.'

\iVhen the sign, figure, or design is cut or stamped from card-board or other material sufficiently strong and firm, a single plate only can be used, and the coloredmaterial or strips of silk made to adhere or be kept in place on its back side by means already stated or other suitable manner, with substantially the same effect as when two plates are used, as already stated, but may not be so lasting or durable.

Strips of fine and highly-colored paper and other flexible highly-colored substances may be used instead of silk for the purpose above described, or even strips of colored glass; but I prefer silk, from its superior fineness, flexibility, quality, and its capacity to receive and retain vivid colors and show them by transmission of light.

Instead of strips of silk of variegated or diversified colors to cover a letter, figure, or design, as above set forth, a single piece to cover one letter of one color and anotherpiece of another color to cover another letter, figure, or design may be used, as fancy or taste dictates.

A sign, figure, or design prepared as above described shows with much brilliancy and effect, especially in shop or store windows at night when a light is placed behind it, and serves as an attractive mode of advertising.

Ornamental designs and figures may be manufactured in'like manner and placed on the interior of windows, to be shown like transparencies to beautify the rooms of houses and other places.

I claim- 1. An ornamental or illuminated sign or transparency consisting of two suitable plates 25 provided with openings of the form or shape desired, covered with transparent or translucent material interposed between said plates, all constructed, arranged, united, and combined substantially as described and shown.

2. The method of producing an illuminated and ornamental sign by removing from each of two sheets of card-board or other suitable material corresponding portions of the shape or form of the figure or design to be shown, and covering the openings thus made with thin translucent colored material, and uniting all to form a single homogeneous body or plate or-sign, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 16th day of November, A. D. 1886.

WALLACE L. HIGHT.

Witnesses:

EDMUND W. POWERS, A. K. P. J OY. 

